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DATE: February
11, 2006 |
| LOCATION:
Children's National Medical Center |
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Capital Queen for a
Day and Potomac Power, which is Children’s National Medical Center’s
activity group for teens with cancer, joined forces on February 11 to
raise the self-esteem and confidence of ten teen patients and siblings
combined.
The guests were
greeted immediately upon arrival by a large group of area titleholders,
including Miss DC Teen USA 2006 Jasmine Niernberger, Miss Southern
Maryland 2006 Melissa Gibson, Miss Arlington 2006 Adrianna Sgarlata,
Miss Maryland USA 2006 Melissa DiGiulian, Miss Patuxent 2006 Leah
Ledbetter, Ms. North America Galaxy 2006 Radiah Hyatte, Miss DC USA 2006
Candace Allen, and Mrs. Virginia 2005 Rose Lopez Keravuori.
After changing from
their street clothes into plush terry-cloth spa robes and pedicure
slippers, the teens selected one of five stations to begin their day of
pampering; manicures and pedicures with the volunteers and titleholders;
makeovers provided by three Mary Kay artists; wig shopping
courtesy of area business Crowning Alternatives; or the snack
table which included both chicken and fruit kabobs, chocolate covered
strawberries, cupcakes, and more, courtesy of Federal City Caterers.
The teens were also
immediately drawn toward the goodie bags which included tee-shirts,
towels, nail polish, lip gloss pens, and a host of other spa supplies
courtesy of Potomac Power. Part of the allure was the presentation of
the goodie bag itself – a sturdy, hot pink Betsey Johnson bag, stuffed
with pink tissue paper, courtesy of the Tysons’s Corner Betsey boutique.
A group of
titleholders and a special volunteer who had survived cancer as a child
herself headed to the inpatient ward armed with goodie bags, tiaras, and
feather boas, to provide in-room parties to three girls who couldn’t
make it to the big party. The group pampered a 24 year old female and a
special five year old having particularly difficult times. Thankfully,
we had supplies for smaller children on hand and were able to provide
the five year old with age appropriate goodies such as necklaces,
sunglasses, and rings.
One titleholder and
our special volunteer were permitted to visit a teenage transplant
patient and although we were unable to provide the teen a true party due
to sanitation concerns, we were able to show her the treats through
plastic. After her transplant phase is completed, she will receive each
of the items and she and her family will have their own party together.
The patient and the family had a special connection with our cancer
survivor as they were all from South Carolina originally and our
survivor had undergone transplant at about the same age as the patient.
It was so uplifting to see the patient’s confidence skyrocket after
coming face to face with a survivor.
As things began to
wrap up at the main party, patients and siblings were crowned as
champions over their illness by an attending titleholder. The hospital
staff remarked that many of the patients we worked with during the teen
spa day are very sad and self-conscience about their current situations;
thanks to our group each patient was able to, if even momentarily,
forget their illnesses and indulge in the luxuries of being a healthy
girl. And that is exactly what we had all hoped.
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Capital
Queen for a Day (Capital QFAD) would like to extend a
sincere thank you to everyone who contributed, attended, or otherwise
helped make last night's fundraiser a huge success. Together,
after settling the bill with TOTH, we raised
$670 to help pediatric cancer patients feel like the
little queens and brave heroes that they are.
Your generous donations
will help fund special events that brighten a child's day and put a
smile on a weary parent's face; help a mother see their ill child as a
little kid again - full of energy and worry free; provide lifelong
memories to help patients get through what may feel to them like a
neverending day; and gently remind a child that they are beautiful,
remarkable, and resilient.
Please give a special
round of applause to David All, Cassandra Harrison,
and Ken Spain for rallying an enormous amount of
support for last night's event through endless calls and emails.
A huge thanks to the
following individuals and organizations for donating $50 or more:
Michael Crain,
Kim Crews, Federal City Caterers (c/o Jessie Robinson),
and Bill Pietrucha (of Capitol Cabaret).
Finally, another thank
you to Tina Winland and Janis Lenderman
for volunteering at the event.
Sincerely,
Branda Napper
Director, Capital Queen for a Day
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DATE: September
17, 2005 |
| LOCATION:
Children's National Medical Center |
CAPITAL QUEEN FOR A DAY HOSTS
KICKOFF EVENT WITH CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Capital Queen for a Day teamed
up with Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) to bring the
nationally recognized confidence building program to Washington, D.C.
in the summer of 2005 and hosted a successful kickoff event on
Saturday, September 17.
Area titleholders Miss College
Park Erica Williams, Miss District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau, Miss
Virginia All American Samira Fazel, and Miss Teen Virginia Elle Bunn,
joined an army of volunteers, a photographer, two makeup artists from
Mary Kay, and three representatives from CNMC – Amy, Lynn, and Kellie,
to help pamper approximately 20 young female patients and siblings.
Together, the team transformed
the Oncology Waiting Room into a princess party, an Administrative
Office into a "Star Dressing Room", and an ordinary hallway into a
special runway. The atmosphere was perfect with party tunes like
Madonna's "Vogue" and Cyndie Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
Each of the five tables in the
party room was used for a different station which included an
appetizer area with peanut butter & jelly tea sandwiches, cookies,
frosted cake, cupcakes and punch; a cookie and cupcake decorating
table for the Martha Stewart wannabes; Mary Kay's makeover station; a
manicure and pedicure corner; and a make-your-own princess wand
station.
The Star Dressing Room was
outfitted with formal and cocktail dresses, skirts, pashminas (a.k.a.
children sized fleece blankets), floppy hats, tall red and white
striped hats, a jewelry case of rings, necklaces, bracelets, and
sunglasses, and feather boas in a variety of loud colors. Queens
raced to try on different looks in between other station rotations.
Throughout the two hour event,
volunteers encouraged individuality allowing each child to choose
makeup colors from the Mary Kay consultants, dress up clothing
combinations, and complete creative control of the design of cookies,
cupcakes, and princess wands.
Initially frustrated that all of
the dresses were on other girls, one diva compromised with a matching
lavender skirt and "pashmina," huge sunglasses, a bright feather boa,
floppy hat, and enough "ice" to make Jennifer Lopez jealous. Another
little girl used clothes hanger ties as spaghetti straps to hold up a
Cinderella-inspired white strapless dress. While it was designed as
knee-length, on the princess it graced the floor perfectly as a
ballgown.
For the coronation ceremony, all
adults relocated from the party room to the end of the runway while
the little queens assembled for their big debut. First titleholders
presented siblings one by one and crowned each with a rhinestone
tiara. Afterward, patients were introduced in the same fashion and
were crowned with a rhinestone tiara plus a special crown tack pin.
Each queen was met at the end of the runway by the flashing cameras of
joyous parents and our official photographer – which collectively
resembled paparazzi.
There are no words that can
truly describe the reward of turning a little girl's frown upside down
for the first time as a new chapter. Every diva needs a day with the
girls sometimes and we look forward to another day with these special
little queens just as much as they are looking forward to seeing us
again.
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